Synthesis of a Novel Hollow Sphere Having Rigid Binaphthyl Macrocycle as Shell

Abstract

A novel hollow sphere having rigid binaphthyl macrocycle as shell was prepared by means
of sacrifice the silica core. The synthesis of hollow sphere from rigid colloidal silica particles occurs
in three steps: a) modification of silica particles with vinyltriethoxysilane as coupling agent, b)
immersion in the solution of monomer having rigid binaphthyl macrocycle and polymerization, and c)
removal of silica particles. These macrocycles contained in the shell of hollow spheres belong to an
important class of host-guest macrocyclic material in which the rigid backbone and C2 symmetry of
the binaphthyl unit play an important role in complexing guest molecules. This will endow hollow
sphere with new opportunities in molecular recognition and separation.The morphology of colloidal
silica particles and hollow spheres was characterized by SEM and TEM.